Dad Next Door by Willow Dixon

ARC Review

Crimson Club #5

Not suitable for anyone under 18 years of age.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️

Blurb

Moving into my first house is step one in starting my new life. Next is setting up my contracting business. I’m so focused on my future that a relationship is the last thing on my mind.

Then I meet Tristan, the single dad next door. He might be my total opposite, but we click in a way I’ve never experienced, and he quickly becomes one of my closest friends.

After attending a wedding as his fake date to make his ex, and his ex’s new boyfriend, jealous, I can’t deny that things between us have changed. I always thought I was straight, but being with Tristan doesn’t just feel good, it feels right.

Having a fling with my neighbor might be a recipe for disaster, but it could also be exactly what we both need to finally move on from our pasts.

Quinn and Tristan’s story is a friends-to-lovers, bi-awakening romance between a retired porn model who just moved into his first home, and a single dad trying to navigate life after divorce. Expect a fake relationship, an age gap, found family, all the feels, lots of spice, and tons of heat as these neighbors find out that sometimes opposites really do attract. It is the fifth novel in the exciting new Crimson Club series but can be read as a standalone.

Expected publication May 8, 2024

What to expect:

❥ Dual POV ❥ MM Romance
❥ Age Gap ❥ Single Dad ❥ ADHD Rep
❥ Friends First ❥ Bi-Awakening ❥ Found Family

Review

I’ve been excited for Quinn’s story, he’s been a recurring character throughout the series, a big support to his friends from the Crimson Club even when they didn’t really like him. So yes, it was about time he got his happy ending as well.

I enjoyed the story, but it was probably my least favorite book in the Crimson Club series. Quinn was great, Tristan was great, they were so great together. Like.. too great?. Barely any angst or tension, or.. most of my tension was spent on the things I thought would happen, but never happened. Like Tristan’s ex, I thought he’d play a bigger part in the book and cause a bit more drama. It’s hard to explain, but the first half of the book had a great built-up, Quinn and Tristan getting to know each other, Quinn starting to question his sexuality, insecurities, fake dates, a mean ex husband… and then it just flattened out for the rest of the book.

I’m not saying that I don’t want my men to be happy, but that’s what happy endings are for, right?

I’m a huge fan of a good mental health REP, especially ADHD, and that’s why Never Have I Ever: Submitted to My Enemy also by Willow Dixon is one of my favorite books ever, BUT.. it felt overdone in this book. I’m all for great communication and taking your partner’s mental health into account, but it was too much for me.

It wasn’t a bad book by any means, and I think I’m being harsh because I feel like the previous books were so much more interesting and intense. Dad Next Door is a great read if you’re looking for something really low angst and sweet. It’s also less spicy in my opinion.

It was great seeing the other guys from Crimson Club again, and I’m sad that this is goodbye. There will be another book, but there is one too many M’s in that romance 😋 which unfortunately isn’t my jam, but I’m sure it will be great as well ♥

My four stars goes to Quinn and his big personality, for him getting what he deserves, and for an overall great series with lots of love, spice and laughter.